Professor Vikram Patel is an Indian psychiatrist, academic and global health researcher who has dedicated his career to making mental health care available in low and middle-income countries. He is a Professor at Harvard Medical School and one of the world's leading authorities on global mental health.
His pioneering research has demonstrated that mental health conditions like depression and anxiety can be effectively treated by training non-specialist community health workers — a model that is transforming mental health care in countries where psychiatrists are scarce.
He is a co-founder of Sangath, a non-profit organisation based in Goa that delivers innovative mental health programmes at community level. He was named as one of TIME magazine's 100 Most Influential People in the World in 2015. His work has helped legitimise mental health as a global health priority.